Tennis enthusiasts have long debated who deserves the coveted title of the GOAT in the sport. While some advocate for Roger Federer, others argue in favor of Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal. This question has not only bothered the fans but also the players of the sport who find it difficult to choose their favorite. 2003 US Open Champion, Andy Roddick, too, faced a similar dilemma when asked to choose between Rafa and Roger in a recent conversation.

During the ‘Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast‘, Roddick expressed his exhaustion with the ongoing debate, stating, “It’s so service-dependent, and I honestly just am so exhausted by the conversation by now.” He acknowledged Federer’s extensive reign at number one and Nadal’s two additional Grand Slam titles. However, he found it challenging to make a definitive choice.

Comparing the head-to-head records of Nadal and Federer with Djokovic, Roddick noted Djokovic’s superior performance, with a head-to-head lead of 30-29 against Nadal and 27-23 against Federer. Ultimately, he was unable to choose between the two, and ended up leaning towards Djokovic, saying, “Sam, don’t make me do it. Let’s just call Novak and be happy with the rest.”

The 41-year-old went on to reflect on past matches and recalled Federer’s frequent defeats to Nadal at Roland Garros. “Roger would kind of inevitably make it far enough in the French Open to take his beating from Rafa,” Roddick. While Nadal has dominated their clay court encounters, Federer has maintained superiority on hard courts, as Roddick pointed out. Well, this is not the first time Roddick has favored Djokovic over Nadal and Federer. 

In February, this year, the 2003 US Open champion emphasized Djokovic’s dominance, stating, “If you line up these three resumes (Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer), and if you choose any of them but this one (Novak), you’re an insane human.” Roddick’s sentiments echo those of others in the tennis community, including Jim Courier, who has highlighted Djokovic’s statistical dominance. He had compared Nole’s 24 Grand Slam titles to Federer’s 20 and Nadal’s 22.

Djokovic himself, has, however, stayed away from this apparent never-ending debate. He believes that considering himself as the greatest player would be disrespectful to others. “I don’t want to say that I am the greatest of all time. It would be disrespectful for all the huge champions who paved the way for us. I leave this discussion to someone else,” Nole had said after winning Roland Garros in 2023. While the debate rages on, even Federer and Nadal have shown no hesitation in crowning Djokovic for the GOAT title.

Nadal-Federer happy to step aside as Novak Djokovic poised for GOAT glory

The ‘Big Three’ of Tennis have consistently shown mutual respect often acknowledging each other, as the GOAT. In a recent discussion with Louis Vuitton, they appeared to be passing on the World Number 1 baton to Djokovic. Nadal and Federer had similar sentiments when asked about how they wished to be remembered.

Nadal wished to be remembered for his character rather than just his tennis prowess, emphasizing the importance of leaving a positive impact. “At the end, what really will make me feel really proud and happy is when I leave this world, if the tournament directors, the people who work on the tournaments, staff, ATP, say good things about who I was on the tour or who I am as a person more than as a tennis player,” he stated in the interview

Federer too shared a similar response and emphasized the significance of his personality and contributions to the game. “I hope if I’m remembered not only as a tennis player but also as the person behind, what I gave to the game and what I represented to the game,” he had said.

As Djokovic continues to add to his legacy, the debate over the GOAT title may witness more varied responses. What is your take on the sports’ GOAT? Do let us know in the comment section